3 talking points as Celtic keep quadruple hopes alive with Liam Scales stunner setting them on the way to victory

Celtic kept their quadruple hopes alive as they stretched their unbeaten domestic run to 25 games to book their Scottish Cup quarter final place with victory over Raith Rovers.

It was a comfortable win in the end for the Hoops against the Fifers but they were made to work for much of the fifth round tie before finally killing off the Championship side.

Leading through a Liam Scales stunner, Ange Postecoglou’s men allowed the visitors back into the game.

And John McGlynn’s men were raging after Steven McLean turned down a penalty claim after Cameron Carter-Vickers appeared to handle the ball.

Raith remained in the game despite that but had to wait until Giorgos Giakoumakis netted a killer second in the 68th minute before they could relax and substitute Daizen Maeda added a third three minutes later.

Celtic added a fourth late on from the penalty spot when Sean Mackie handled and Nir Bitton netted at the second attempt after MacDonald saved his initial effort.

Mackie had already been booked but Ross Matthews was shown the yellow for that incident in a case of mistaken identity in a bad day at the office for whistler McLean.

It was a good day in the end despite being below par for long spells and Christopher Jullien made his long-awaited return, although Mikey Johnston limped off and could be added to the injury list.

Johnston had been given his chance to shine and went close early on with a jinking run and shot just over.

But there was a nervy moment at the other end when Stephen Welsh was almost caught out with a passback that Jamie Gullan was close to intercepting but Joe Hart cleared the danger.

Nir Bitton tried his luck from distance and the Israeli’s long range effort sailed just over Jamie MacDonald’s crossbar.